World Cup 2023: Matthew Hayden explains how Hardik Pandya-less India can field their strongest playing 11

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World Cup 2023: Australia great Matthew Hayden has explained how India can field their strongest eleven in the absence of injured all-rounder Hardik Pandya who injured his left ankle during the match against Bangladesh on Thursday.

As per the latest update Hardik Pandya, who has been advised rest, will not be travelling to Dharamsala where India will face New Zealand on Sunday. He will join the squad directly in Lucknow where India play England on October 29.

India are now sweating over their team composition against a dangerous New Zealand side. The presence of Hardik Pandya in the eleven gives India a balance which can be given by no other player in the country. The 30-year-old had so far got only one opportunity to bat in the World Cup 2023 but has been exceptional with his pace bowling.

Hayden said there was no player in the world who could be a like-for-like replacement for Hardik. However, he definitely gave India a way to tackle the situation. Hayden said India should bring in a specialist batter in Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav and also replace Shardul Thakur with specialist pacer Mohammed Shami.

“No one in the world really. He’s that good an all-rounder at the moment, and when you think back into the history of the way he’s been performing, whenever he’s not playing for any team there is always a balance issue. He provides that great stability," Hayden said while speaking exclusively to ESPNCricinfo.

“The good thing for India is that they’ve got batting cover. Surya Kumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan can easily slot into that role, and then you get your specialist seamer Mohammad Shami back into the side, so that also would be a very good side.

"I don’t think you can have Jadeja batting up the order, I feel that’s a fragility in the Indian batting line up. The best combination is to get a specialist batter in there, and that way then you have an option to pick a specialist seam bowler as well in Shami," he further added.

India defeated Bangladesh by seven wickets to register their fourth consecutive win of the World Cup 2023. New Zealand and India are the only two unbeaten teams in the ongoing ICC marquee event.